*DS Ratings Prediction Game: Season 20*

Welcome to Season 20 of the DSRPG, a game created by rzt that is dedicated to TV ratings predictions.

How to play:
Every week, a new schedule will be posted on the thread containing all the shows you need to predict the ratings for in the forthcoming week. The first schedule can be found further down this page. You simply quote this post, remove the quote tags, enter your prediction next to each show and hit submit. Then check back during the week to see your progress. Daily updates will be posted to show how people are doing.

Scoring:
Accurate predictions score 5 points.
Predictions that are 0.1-0.3m away from the actual rating score 3 points.
Predictions that are 0.4-0.5m away from the actual rating score 2 points.
Predictions that are 0.6m-1.0m away from the actual rating score 1 point.
Predictions that are more than 1.0m away from the actual rating do not score.

Special programmes:
Three of the 15 main programmes you have to predict each week will be marked as "special." Special status is normally reserved for the trickiest shows to predict in the schedule each week and players will be rewarded with double points for these particular shows. For example, if you were to accurately predict the rating of a programme marked "special" you would receive 10 points instead of the usual 5.

Backup programmes:
Backup ratings are used in the event of one of the 15 main programmes not being shown, changed significantly from its original timeslot or if its ratings are not reported in the media. Backup ratings also serve as a decider in tiebreak situations, so backups are still important and your overall score including backups will be monitored throughout the season.

NEW: STAR RATING
For some weeks over the season you will be asked to predict one or more Star Rating. A Star Rating programme will be revealed on the day of it's broadcast and predictions will have to take into account over-runs if necessary. A Star Rating will be flagged at the same time as that week's schedule so players are aware when they'll be expected to predict a rating. I'll attempt to post the programme as early as possible to give players as much time as possible to post their predictions. Players will be rewarded quadruple points for these particular shows. For example, if you were to accurately predict the rating of a programme marked "star rating" you would receive 20 points instead of the usual 5.

Leaderboards:
At the end of each week, a series of leaderboards will be posted to show how everyone performed. One based on points scored during that particular week, another for total points overall across the season, and another based on weekly average (which I forgot to do in season 19 ). At the end of the season, there will be final leaderboards for weekly average and overall points scored during season 19.

Common questions:Does it matter if I miss a week?
No! You can still participate in the weekly games and also monitor your performance on the weekly average table where you could still be a high performer.

What ratings sources do you use?
We attempt to use tape-checked ratings from media websites including Digital Spy. This means that if a programme starts a couple of minutes late or finishes a couple of minutes early, this will be taken into account, helping to give a more accurate picture of a programme's performance. However, due to the sporadic nature of ratings reporting we also use http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk which do not use tape-checked ratings.

What happens if a featured programme overruns?
For everything except live sporting / event programmes, a backup rating will be used in the event of a featured programme overrunning by more than 20 minutes, other than for Star Rating shows as stated above. Likewise, if a programme starts at least 20 minutes later/finishes 20 minutes earlier than the advertised time, it will become void and a backup rating will be used instead. In all other cases the original predictions will still count regardless. With sporting events try to factor in the possibility of coverage overrunning when making your predictions.

Is high definition viewing counted?
Yes, the figures that we use will include HD wherever possible.

Rules:
- Please try to submit your predictions by the deadline specified. Late entries will be accepted, but you’ll be penalised accordingly.
- Please do not attempt to cheat by copying other people’s predictions. Enter into the spirit of the game by making sure the predictions you make are entirely your own.
- Please ensure you make your predictions in private if necessary. Occasionally you’ll be asked to submit your predictions privately via private message instead of publicly on the thread. Make sure you do not post predictions on the thread during these weeks or your predictions won't count.

I don't mind it myself as I check here daily - but I don't think most players have time to check back twice....one suggestion could be a star rated programme each week...eg..the 3rd Special rating...could be worth 20 points... Alternatively have the 2 star ratings on a weekend...so players have Mon-Fri to check in.....

I don't mind it myself as I check here daily - but I don't think most players have time to check back twice....one suggestion could be a star rated programme each week...eg..the 3rd Special rating...could be worth 20 points... Alternatively have the 2 star ratings on a weekend...so players have Mon-Fri to check in.....

Good idea. I will need to be able to find time to o Star Ratings as I have homework and school and guitar lessons etc. I wonder if Season 20 will see my first win or first time in the top 20

Someone sent a PM saying much the same thing. OK, here's how I'm going to play it (and thanks to C.M.W. for this suggestion.)

I will open Star Ratings at the start of the week along with every other show. However, players will be able to alter their predictio/sn for Star Rating show/s up to 9.30am on the morning after the show's broadcast. The points process will remain the same.

I'm not overly keen on having predictions that are worth 20 points when the majority are only worth 5 points. I don't mind a few specials when their only double points but having predictions worth 20 is making the game more open to luck as someone could do poorly on most of their predictions then get the two star ratings bang on and still be very competitive.

I'm not overly keen on having predictions that are worth 20 points when the majority are only worth 5 points. I don't mind a few specials when their only double points but having predictions worth 20 is making the game more open to luck as someone could do poorly on most of their predictions then get the two star ratings bang on and still be very competitive.

Star Ratings aren't going to pop up every week; this is more of a test to see how they go. What Star Ratings offer is the ability to alter the rating throughout the week and even after broadcast to take in hype and discussion how the show was received hence the higher points. But if they're not successful, or seem overly unfair, I'll quietly write them off (they certainly won't appear in the next couple of weeks).

I'm not overly keen on having predictions that are worth 20 points when the majority are only worth 5 points. I don't mind a few specials when their only double points but having predictions worth 20 is making the game more open to luck as someone could do poorly on most of their predictions then get the two star ratings bang on and still be very competitive.

Star Ratings aren't going to pop up every week; this is more of a test to see how they go. What Star Ratings offer is the ability to alter the rating throughout the week and even after broadcast to take in hype and discussion how the show was received hence the higher points. But if they're not successful, or seem overly unfair, I'll quietly write them off (they certainly won't appear in the next couple of weeks).

Also, just to say that usually there will only be one Star Rating in Star Rating weeks, not two. It was just a quirk in the schedule which lead to their being two Star Ratings this week rather than the one.

I hope this isn't going to put anyone off playing the game but if it does I understand.